Your class will never look at buildings the same way again after this 'Famous Buildings' scheme of work for Year 3/4! They will investigate a variety of the world's most famous buildings, thinking about what makes a building aesthetically pleasing and exploring how architectural styles change over time. Of course, there are plenty of hands-on and creative activities for them to do too and the opportunity to recreate famous buildings in a variety of ways.

With lesson plans, slides, activity ideas, differentiated worksheets, picture cards, challenges and much more, these 'Famous Buildings' lessons contain all you need to turn your class into creative and inspired architects!

You might like our My World Topic Bundle – perfect if you're looking for a cross-curricular approach to your teaching!

Comparing Buildings

The first lesson in this series gives your children a general overview of the role of an architect, before exploring a range of famous buildings from around the world. Your class will discuss which building they think looks best and why, and think about why their opinions may differ.

Included within this lesson pack is an easy-to-follow plan, a set of slides for the teaching input, differentiated activity ideas and printable resources.

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St Paul's Cathedral

This lesson takes a close look at one of Britain's most famous buildings and most famous architects. They will find out who Sir Christopher Wren was and what he achieved during his lifetime before looking at arguably his most famous design, St Paul's Cathedral.

As a class, children will first explore four different shading techniques - hatching, crosshatching, scumbling and stippling - and then will apply these skills in their independent activities when shading in an outline of St Paul's Cathedral.

A detailed plan, an informative slide show, differentiated activity ideas and printable resources are all included in this St. Paul's Cathedral Art lesson pack.

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St Basil's Cathedral

No, your class are not looking at the set of a Disney movie…they are looking at one of the most colourful and unusual buildings in the world! St Basil's Cathedral in Russia attracts millions of visitors every year with its weird and wonderful shapes and colours.

Children will first explore the history, design and features of this unique cathedral before looking at some different methods and techniques they could use to create an artwork of the building. They will be challenged to mix paints to match the colours of the different domes, or in the alternative activity, use oil pastels and ink to create a striking artwork of the cathedral.

Included with this lesson pack is an easy-to-follow plan, a set of slides for the teaching input, differentiated activity ideas and printable resources.

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The Taj Mahal

This lesson focuses on the Taj Mahal, looking specifically at its symmetrical design. Your children will identify lines of symmetry within the facade of the buildings, as well as in the building's reflection in the pool's water, before creating their own symmetrical Taj Mahal masterpiece!

Within this art lesson pack is a detailed plan, a set of engaging slides, differentiated activity ideas and printable resources.

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Sydney Opera House

This lesson looks at a more modern building - the Sydney Opera House. Your class will find out about the lucky winner of a competition who became the architect of one of the world's most recognisable buildings.

Children will use the opera house as the inspiration for their own artwork, where they will either create a textured collage of the building, or experiment with making a simplified paper sculpture.

This ready-to-teach lesson pack comes with a detailed plan, an informative set of slides, differentiated activity ideas and printable resources.

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Becoming Architects

The final lesson in this series allows your children to draw on everything they have found out about architecture and a variety of building designs to design their own building for a particular purpose. Focusing on the exterior aesthetics, your class could design a new vet centre, palace, aquarium or any other type of building they feel inspired to dream up, thinking about colour, line, shape and features.

An easy-to-follow plan, an informative slide show, differentiated activity ideas and printable resources are all included in this Art lesson pack.

View Lesson 6